DETROIT – Only time will tell if David Legwand has found a
permanent home with the Detroit Red Wings.

But when it comes time to talk money after the season, the
opportunity to play with Johan Franzen and Gustav Nyquist might be a good
selling point for the Red Wings.

Of course, coach Mike Babcock could break the trio up long
before then – Babcock does love to shuffle his lines – so there's no guarantee
they could still be together next week let alone next season.

But the early returns have been encouraging.

In just the second game since Legwand joined the Red Wings
in a trade with the Nashville Predators, the threesome combined for 11 points
in a 7-4 victory over the New Jersey Devils Friday at Joe Louis Arena.

"They're world-class players," Legwand said of his new
linemates. "Obviously, Gus is speed and skill and Mule is a big body that can
skate. He's deadly from the top of the circles in and he's a big body that
loves to go to the net.

"It felt good. Obviously it's exciting to score in this
building. Even doing it as a visitor for the last 15 years was exciting but
obviously doing it for the home team to get a win is a little more exciting."

Legwand, who grew up in Grosse Pointe, scored his first goal with the Red Wings 4:48 into
the third period to give Detroit a 6-3 lead. He also picked up two assists.

Franzen scored twice and had two assists while Nyquist
assisted on Detroit's first three goals before giving the Red Wings the lead for good
when he made it 4-3 with 4:55 left in the second period.

"The puck's been going in, I guess," said Nyquist, who
has 11 goals and 11 assists in his last 16 games. "It's nice to see. I've been
playing with really good players here and gotten a lot of opportunity to play
in different situations -- power play, a lot of minutes, so it's fun.

"It's been real fun with Leggy coming in here, I thought we
had a pretty good night tonight, our line, but a real team effort win."

Legwand has yet to practice with the Red Wings since being
acquired Wednesday from Nashville in exchange for Patrick Eaves, prospect Calle
Jarnkrok and a draft pick.

He took the ice with them for the first time during Thursday's
morning skate and then centered Franzen and Nyquist that night in a 3-2 overtime
loss to Colorado.

Nyquist was at a loss to explain why the line has clicked so
quickly.

"I don't know," said Nyquist, who is tied for the team
lead with 16 goals in only 38 games. "We haven't really practiced together. But
Leggy's a real smart player, plays real well defensively and offensively can
make plays, just a really good centerman in this league.

"And Mule, we all obviously know he can shoot the puck and
score some big goals. He's been on fire here so that's huge for us."

Indeed, Franzen is one of the hottest players in the
NHL.

He's scored
six goals in five games since returning from a concussion and in his past 23
games has 13 goals and 15 assists.

Franzen, who has missed 22 games because of the concussion, has
15 goals in 36 games this season.

"The Mule's been good, he didn't get to play very much, that's
all," Babcock said. "Now that he's playing it's real obvious why he's so
important. Leadership-wise he has to be a huge factor for us. When you're one
of the best players in the league you have to play like that each and every
night.

"I think Mule's been real good."

With Henrik Zetterberg (back), Pavel Datsyuk (knee) and
Darren Helm (possible concussion) all sidelined, general manager Ken Holland
traded for Legwand to give the Red Wings some help up the middle between Franzen and
Nyquist.

"We needed someone to play with them," Babcock said. "Kenny
being able to get the deal done for us before the deadline was a real positive
for us. (Legwand is) a guy that's been around and as soon as he gets more
comfortable he'll be even better. He's really going to help our team.

"I thought Nyquist was outstanding, flying out there and
making lots of plays. He's got a real good hockey sense. He seems to score
more. He used to pass it all the time. As he continues to shoot the more he's
going to score more."

The Red Wings jumped in front 2-0 on goals by Brendan Smith
and Franzen before New Jersey scored three times in a span of 2:21, taking the lead on the first of Adam Henrique's two goals after Babcock called timeout
when the Devils tied it.

But the Red Wings settled down and Franzen tied it again
barely two minutes later before Nyquist put the Red Wings ahead for good.

"If you have a team that's maybe hasn't got the leadership,
that's when you lose games like that," said goaltender Jonas Gustavsson, who
made 21 saves in raising his record to 15-4-3. "In this group we got a lot of
guys who've been around for a long time.

"I'm sure they know how to handle that and spread the word
what to do in a situation like that. I think we got a good timeout there. Good
teams find a way to bounce back in different situations. We really did that
tonight.

"It's nice when you let a few goals in you see the team
respond like that, it gives you a kick, too, as a goalie. You want to push
yourself and battle for the team."

Kyle Quincey and Drew Miller also tallied for the Red Wings,
whose seven goals represented a season high while matching the most the Devils
have allowed this season. Todd Bertuzzi picked up two assists for Detroit.

The eighth-place Red Wings (29-21-13) trail Philadelphia and
the New York Rangers by one point. They're two back of fifth-place Tampa Bay
and four behind fourth-place Toronto in the Eastern Conference.